When making this splice lay your line out on deck or use a table, be sure and take the right measurements. One thing I learned is that everybody wants to talk while you are splicing and they are all experts. Stay focused and take your time, it looks bad when your core gets sucked up inside the cover.
1. Tape the end to be spliced with one thin layer of tape; then measure one tubular fid length (two wire fid lengths because wire fid is one half size) from the end of the line and mark-this is point R (reference). From R, form a loop the size of the eye desired and mark this is point X, where you extract the core from inside the cover.
2. Tie a tight slip knot approximately five fid lengths from X in order to keep the core and cover from becoming uneven. Bend the line sharply at X. With the pusher or any sharp tool such as an ice pick, awl, or marlinespike, spread the cover strands to expose the core. First pry and then pull the core completely out of the cover from X to the taped end of the line. Put only one layer of tape on the end of the core. Do not pull cover strands away from the line when spreading the cover as doing so will distort the line. To assure the correct positioning of mark 1, do the following:
Holding the exposed core, slide the cover as far back toward the tied slipknot as you can. Then, firmly smooth the cover back from the slipknot toward the taped end. Smooth it again until all cover slack is removed. Then mark the core where it comes out of the cover (this is mark 1).
3. Again slide the cover toward the slipknot to expose more core. From mark 1, measure along the core toward X a distance equal to the short section of tubular fid (two short sections with wire fid), and make two heavy marks (this is mark 2). From mark 2, measure in the same direction one fid length plus another short section of the fid (with wire fid, use double measurements) and make three heavy marks (this is mark 3.
4. The cover braid it is made up of strands, either one or two (pair). Notice that half the pairs revolve to the right around the rope and half revolve to the left. Beginning at R and working toward the taped end of the cover, count eight consecutive strands (single or pairs) which revolve to the right (or left). Mark the eighth strand (this is mark T. Make mark T go completely around the cover. Starting at T and working around the taped cover end, count and mark every fifth right and left strand (single or paired) until you have progressed down to the end of the taped cover.
5. Insert the fid into the core at mark 2, and slide it through and out at mark 3. Add extra tape to the tapered cover end; then jam it tightly into the hollow end of the fid. Hold the core lightly at mark 3; place the pusher point into the taped end; and push the fid and cover through from mark 2 and out at mark 3. With the wire fid, first press prongs into the cover and then tape over. Then, after the fid is on, milk the braid over the fid while pulling the fid through from mark 2 to mark 3. Take the fid off the cover. Continue pulling the cover tail through the core until mark R on the cover emerges from mark 3. Then remove the tape from the end of the taped cover.
6. Make sure that the tape is removed from the cover end. Start with the last marked pair of cover strands toward the end, and cut and pull them out completely. Cut and remove the next marked strands, and continue with each right and left marked strands until you reach point T. (Do not cut beyond this point.) The result should be a gradual taper ending in a point. Very carefully pull the cover back through the core until point T emerges from mark 2 of the core. From point X on the cover, measure approximately one-half fid length toward the slipknot on the line and mark this as point Z.
7. You are now ready to put the core back into the cover from T to Z. Insert your fid at T, and jam the taped core end tightly into the end of the fid. With the pusher, push the fid and core through the cover "tunnel" past point X to, and through, the cover at point Z. When using the wire fid, attach the fid to the taped core. After the fid is on, milk the braid over the fid while pulling through from T to Z. When pushing the fid past X to Z, make sure the fid does not catch any internal core strands. Note: Depending on eye size, the fid may not be long enough to reach from T to Z in one pass. If not, bring the fid out through the cover, pull the core through, and reinsert the fid into the exact hole it came out of, doing this as many times as needed to reach point Z.
8. Alternately pull on the core tail at Z and on the tapered cover at mark 3. The crossover must now be tightened until the crossover is equal to the diameter of the line. Remove all the slack from the eye area by smoothing the cover from point T toward X. Mark the core tail through the cover at point X. Pull the core tail out until the mark just made on the core is exposed at Z. The diameter of the core must now be reduced by cutting and removing one strand at each group around the complete circumference. Measure one-third fid length from the first reduction cut toward the end, and mark. Cut off the remaining tail at this point. DO NOT CUT THIS TO SHORT OR IT WILL GET SUCKED UP INTO THE CORE. Make the cut on a 45-deg angle to prevent a blunt end. With one hand, hold the crossover (mark T). Smooth the cover section of the eye out firmly and completely from the crossover toward mark X. The reduced-volume core tail should disappear into the cover at Z. Smooth out the core section from the crossover toward mark 3, and the cover taper will disappear into the core. Hold the rope at the slipknot, and, with the other hand, milk the cover toward the splice, gently at first, then more firmly. The cover will slide over mark 3, mark 2, the crossover, T, and R. (It may be occasionally necessary to smooth out the eye during milking to prevent the reduced-volume tail from catching in the throat of the splice,)
If bunching occurs at the crossover, preventing full burying, smooth the cover from T to X. Grasp crossover at T with one hand, and then firmly smooth the cover slack with the other hand towards the throat (X). Repeat as necessary until bunching disappears. Continue milking until all cover slack between the knot and the throat of the eye has been removed.
Note: Before burying the cover under the crossover, do the following:
(a) Anchor the loop of the slipknot to a stationary object before you start to bury. You can then use both hands and the weight of your body to more easily bury the cover over the core and crossover. Do this real easy at first and second time.
(b) Holding the crossover tightly, milk all excess cover from R to X. Flex and loosen the line at the crossover point during the final burying process. Hammering the cover at point X will help loosen the strands. I use a mallet right at the cross over.
With larger ropes it is helpful to anchor the slipknot securely, attach a small line to the braided core at the crossover, and mechanically apply tension with either a block and tackle, capstan, come-long, or power winch. Tension will reduce the diameter of core and crossover for easier burying.
